Nomination Day is Monday, September 18, 2017. Nominations will be accepted in person at the Beaver County Service Centre in Ryley from 10 am – noon. A nomination deposit of $100 is required (cash or certified cheque only).

Advance Vote is Thursday, October 5, 2017. Voting stations will be open from 2 pm - 8 pm at the Lindbrook Hall, Spilstead Hall (Division 2), Beaver County Service Centre, and the Viking Carena. Voter identification is required.

If you are unable to vote at the Advance Vote or at a regular voting station on Election Day, you may vote by special ballot. Applications are available now until 4:30 pm, Friday, October 13, 2017, and may be requested in writing, via fax, or in person. Download the application form here.

You must identify yourself as an eligible voter when you submit your application to vote by special ballot. Please return your application with a photocopy of one piece of valid ID. Click here for a list of valid identification documents.

Once you receive your special ballot, you must return it to the Beaver County Service Centre no later than 4:30 pm, Friday, October 13, 2017. Post-dated ballots will not be accepted.

When you attend the voting station to vote on Election Day, you must produce valid identification to prove your identity and place of residence.

Click here for a list of valid identification documents. Only one proof of identity is required, but the identification must show BOTH the name and address of each voter.

Note that a driver’s license is an acceptable form of identification even if it specifies a postal box # as your address. Provided that the town/village shown on your driver’s license is reasonable with respect to the division in which you are voting, it will be accepted as valid ID.

For example, if you are voting in Division 3 and your driver’s license indicates “Box xx, Ryley or Box xx, Holden”, you will be allowed to vote. If you are voting in Division 3 and your driver’s license indicates “Box xx, Camrose or Box xx, Vegreville”, the election official may not consider this reasonable, and may ask for additional identification.

Remember that the election officials cannot vouch for you even if they know you personally. Please come prepared to the voting station with valid identification.

If you have questions regarding valid ID, refer to the list of valid identification documents or contact the Returning Officer, Margaret Jones, at 780-663-3730.

The office of municipal councillor is a busy and challenging one, but also very rewarding. If you are interested in running for office in the Fall 2017 municipal election, we encourage you to review the following information in advance:

To be eligible to run in the 2017 Municipal Election, the following criteria must be met:

You must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen on Nomination Day;

You must have lived in Alberta at least 6 months prior to Election Day;

You must have been a resident of the division in which you plan to run at least 6 months prior to Nomination Day and on Election Day;

You are not ineligible to run as outlined in Sections 21-23 of the Local Authorities Election Act.

Nomination Day

Nominations for the office of municipal Councillor will be accepted in person on Monday, September 18, 2017, between 10:00 am and noon, at the Beaver County Service Centre at 5120 – 50th Street, Ryley. A nomination deposit of $100 is required.

The Local Authorities Election Act requires that candidates who intend to accept campaign contributions, including self-funded campaigns, register their intent to run for election with the municipality. The campaign period for purposes of the 2017 election is January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017.

Exemption: An exemption applies if the candidate’s campaign is entirely self-funded to a maximum of $10,000. Despite this exemption, candidates may choose to register just in case an unexpected contribution is made. If, in the course of campaigning, a candidate is offered a contribution, the candidate may not accept it until he/she has registered. A candidate who contravenes the legislation is liable to a fine.

Click here for the Application for Registration of Notice of Intent to Become a Candidate for Municipal Office.

The Act also requires that candidates who have received campaign contributions issue receipts for each contribution and file a disclosure statement by March 1, 2018. Under certain circumstances, the candidate must open a campaign account at a bank.

Click here for a Campaign Disclosure Statement and Financial Statement.

What is a campaign contribution?

A campaign contribution is any money, personal property, real property or service that is provided to or for the benefit of a candidate or the candidate’s election campaign without fair market value compensation from that candidate. A contribution does not include services provided by a volunteer who receives no compensation, directly or indirectly, in relation to the services provided.

The Local Authorities Election Act places limits on campaign contributions by any person, corporation, trade union, or employee organization. To review the legislation, click here.

Candidates who intend to register and/or anticipate receiving contributions from a third party are responsible for ensuring all requirements of the Act are met.

The County is required to maintain a register of candidates who file the Application for Registration. The register will include the following information:

Full name and address of the candidate,

Address of the place(s) where the candidate’s records are maintained.

Address of the place(s) to which communications to the candidate may be addressed.

Names and addresses of the financial institutions to be used as depositories for campaign contributions.